Matt Roth

[mexicobufan]

Everyone thought Roth would commit in the spring and nothing yet. The way for Jim to end this is to get Matt on campus and challenge him to a three point shotting contest. Jim wins he comes to BU, if Jim loses Matt goes some place else. The question is who would win? Its a Saturday and I am bored as you can tell, the wife is up in the US and I am here with the dogs........who wins that contest?

[BUBraves06]

Roth wins in a walk. Coach wins a free throw shooting contest though.

[georgethedog]

Roth wins in a walk. Coach wins a free throw shooting contest though.

Coach Les wins if someone is guarding them.

[Da Coach]

Or if they guard each other.

[tornado]

Rivals recrutiing expert Justin Young is hinting that Roth will soon commit to St. Louis.

Also....June 15 was the beginning of the phone contact period that coaches can now call the 2009 recurits, so Matt might just want to solidify his spot soon.

[Braves4Life]

Rivals recrutiing expert Justin Young is hinting that Roth will soon commit to St. Louis.

Also....June 15 was the beginning of the phone contact period that coaches can now call the 2009 recurits, so Matt might just want to solidify his spot soon.

Wonder if Roth is second-guessing himself. He waited too long to decide, and now must be looking at all of the quality guards that have already commited to the quality university and has to settle for second best. Oh well, at least he'll get plenty of PT at St. Louis as Majerus attempts to turnaround their program. Unfortunately, the kid will never go pro and will have to depend on the quality of his diploma to secure his future.......... I know I'd rather have a BU degree

[Chico]

Matt is a great kid with great talent. He wouldn't be the only kid with great talent not to go pro. So what if he doesn't? I really wish he would come to Bradley, as does most of Central Illinois.

[mexicobufan]

There is not a better system than what Bradley runs for Matts talents. Lets hope he thinks about it long and hard and goes to BU....

[tornado]

I would ask you to compare the things Matt has said publicly about Bradley, to the way guys like Iman Shumpert, Nick Fruendt, Tyler Storm, and other have talked about BU.

Most of those guys have said really nice things, positive things, and encouraging things about BU and Jim Les.
Even going back a few years, I recall other recruits (Will Egolf and even guys who chose to go elsewhere like Manual Cass) also saying how much they liked Bradley and really respected Jim Les.
Many of those guys have endeared themselves to BU fans with the kind things they say, and if you don't believe it, check out how positive the threads are about Iman Shumpert, they all speak of how classy a guy he is and speak of his "loyalty" to the programs who are recruiting him.

Then back to Matt Roth....
I read as much about the recruiting scene as probably anyone else on this board. I read lots of other message boards, news accounts and comments, and stories from the recruiting gurus...and guess what....?
I really don't have a clue what Matt Roth thinks about Bradley.
Roth acts as if BU doesn't exist...or is at best his fall-back plan.
When he was at Carver for a visit, he never seemed to be too interested in what was going on, and at one game he entered the locker room before the game but didn't seem to interact at all with the other players.
In interviews all he ever says is that "most of the schools from the MVC" have offered, rarely differentiating BU from Indiana State, although he has made two high profile visits to St. Louis and kind of bubbled over to the press about those visits....so just what conclusion can we draw?

I have been an ardent Matt Roth fan since I first saw him play in 5-6th grade. Since he entered high school I have been in favor of BU going hard after him, and have never said otherwise...until now.
I have slowly begun to get the feeling that Matt Roth doesn't seem to have the desire to play for Bradley, UNLESS, in the end, it is the best offer he gets.
My final comment is that Matt needs to put up or shut up, commit or not.

His tendency to avoid saying anything, even the tiniest bit encouraging or positive about BU leave me thinking he doesn't have Bradley very high on his list and doesn't seem to care much about what we think.
If he were Top 5 in his class or even Top 10, I would still hold out hope he comes here.
But keep in mind most evaluators have him little higher than Top 20 in Illinois. BU will get someone good with the final scholarship....if it is not Roth, I can handle it.

[Braves4Life]

I would ask you to compare the things Matt has said publicly about Bradley, to the way guys like Iman Shumpert, Nick Fruendt, Tyler Storm, and other have talked about BU.

Most of those guys have said really nice things, positive things, and encouraging things about BU and Jim Les.
Even going back a few years, I recall other recruits (Will Egolf and even guys who chose to go elsewhere like Manual Cass) also saying how much they liked Bradley and really respected Jim Les.
Many of those guys have endeared themselves to BU fans with the kind things they say, and if you don't believe it, check out how positive the threads are about Iman Shumpert, they all speak of how classy a guy he is and speak of his "loyalty" to the programs who are recruiting him.

Then back to Matt Roth....
I read as much about the recruiting scene as probably anyone else on this board. I read lots of other message boards, news accounts and comments, and stories from the recruiting gurus...and guess what....?
I really don't have a clue what Matt Roth thinks about Bradley.
Roth acts as if BU doesn't exist...or is at best his fall-back plan.
When he was at Carver for a visit, he never seemed to be too interested in what was going on, and at one game he entered the locker room before the game but didn't seem to interact at all with the other players.
In interviews all he ever says is that "most of the schools from the MVC" have offered, rarely differentiating BU from Indiana State, although he has made two high profile visits to St. Louis and kind of bubbled over to the press about those visits....so just what conclusion can we draw?

I have been an ardent Matt Roth fan since I first saw him play in 5-6th grade. Since he entered high school I have been in favor of BU going hard after him, and have never said otherwise...until now.
I have slowly begun to get the feeling that Matt Roth doesn't seem to have the desire to play for Bradley, UNLESS, in the end, it is the best offer he gets.
My final comment is that Matt needs to put up or shut up, commit or not.

His tendency to avoid saying anything, even the tiniest bit encouraging or positive about BU leave me thinking he doesn't have Bradley very high on his list and doesn't seem to care much about what we think.
If he were Top 5 in his class or even Top 10, I would still hold out hope he comes here.
But keep in mind most evaluators have him little higher than Top 20 in Illinois. BU will get someone good with the final scholarship....if it is not Roth, I can handle it.

Couldn't have said it any better!

[brocks]

I have thought this for a while. At this point I'd revoke the offer and go after someone who realizes that something special is happening here. I don't want this kid. Good luck playing for Rick M for 2 years (pre-coronary).

[MacabreMob]

I have said before and I will say it again... I want players to come to Bradley that WANT to be at Bradley.

I have been holding back a couple comments til now...

I saw Matt a couple times. Yes, he has a very nice long range shot. But IMO, I didn't see anything more than just that.

And if a player with just a great long range shot comes to BU and is also a local hero... I can see/hear the outcry now over lack of playing time no matter how much/little he plays.

The Anti-JL people will come back out of the woodwork along with the PJStar ripping into Bradley and Coach Les.

But this is a double edge sword. If what I said above becomes true, then maybe BU isn't interested in taking that direction. But then... if MR goes elsewhere, no matter how good or bad he does it will always be used against BU and JL in the press and by anti-JL people on how BU/JL screwed up.

Whatever. I hope MR's family/friends/supporters aren't gonna be hunting me down to burn my house for those comments. Anyway, good luck to MR and I hope he finds success and happiness in whatever decision he makes.

[Chico]

What do you expect a kid with the talent of Matt Roth to do? From day one should he say where he wants to go? If he did I would hope it would be Bradley. Many juniors haven't committed yet, including Shumpert. You guys are sounding bitter because he might go to St. Louis. He wouldn't be the first local talent to go elsewhere. I could name names but the list would be too long. If I was him and read this board I would have second thoughts about even considering Bradley. If you read this board Matt, you know most of Central Illinois want you to be a Brave.

[tornado]

Chico, you are way off base.
99% of everything about Matt Roth on this board for the past 2 years has been almost Koolaid positive.......

Matt himself said he was going to decide by late spring, then that came and went.....no decision....

Now...all that's being said is that if he decides to go elsewhere we aren't going to commit Hari-Kiri, and you say we sound "bitter".

Hey....if you want to see bitter, go look at the attacks on other message boards, like the ones on Missouri State's about their head coach that's finished in the top of the MVC for several years running.
Or go look at the attacks of Jim Les on the other local message board, if you can find it.

I see no bitterness, only realism.

The Illini fans tend to rip Roth a lot...

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?S=169#S=169&F=1095&T=588889&P=1

[MacabreMob]

What do you expect a kid with the talent of Matt Roth to do? From day one should he say where he wants to go? If he did I would hope it would be Bradley. Many juniors haven't committed yet, including Shumpert. You guys are sounding bitter because he might go to St. Louis. He wouldn't be the first local talent to go elsewhere. I could name names but the list would be too long. If I was him and read this board I would have second thoughts about even considering Bradley. If you read this board Matt, you know most of Central Illinois want you to be a Brave.

Yea, you got me wrong Chico.

I will say again... I want players to come to Bradley that WANT to be at Bradley. Also, good luck to MR and I hope he finds success and happiness in whatever decision he makes.